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Updated details in bold North Downs Way. 23, 18.5 or 14ml. Route If you are not helping with or walking the 100 you may like to join Lonica in her weekend walk, planned so she can complete the North Downs Way Saturday 25 May. Wye to Dover (23 miles). Leave Wye at 9.41. Either 7.55 train from…

In case you missed last week's STOP PRESS email, Ron's popular morning-and-afternoon combo Hills of the North undergoes a repeat tomorrow (Tuesday). Warning: may contain Wetherspoons. And at the weekend, those of you not helping out on (or walking - good luck!) the Hadrian Hundred are welcome to…

Two walks in one - morning AND afternoon Midweek day time Pop Up Tuesday May 21st Morning - A tourist's stroll across the city Distance 4 miles Start: Fenchurch St station (main entrance) 10:30 Finish: Kings Cross station An opportunity to spend some time at several of London's free…

As a 17.30 finish can't be guaranteed, walk leader Rod Smith suggests buying an off-peak day return, valid for the high-speed if they wish. Updated walks notes are as follows: Buy an off-peak day return ticket to Dover &ndash; with Railcard - from Charing Cross (catch the 07:40), £18.15, or from…

The Premier League may be over for this season but London Group's midweek evening programme is kicking off on Thursday when Peter leads a riverside walk from Richmond to Putney. Then on Saturday Rod is offering the chance to get out of town (and avoid those Cup Final crowds) with a linear walk from…

This week 'North London is ours', as rival Spurs and Arsenal fans take turn in informing each other. This particular bit of the capital is the part between Finchley and Stanmore where Ron will be leading us on Saturday. All the details below. It's amazing who you can meet out walkingGordon…

Before we get down to business as usual, many congratulations to Val Dawson, Adam's other half, for completing the London Marathon while raising funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital. Meanwhile, route planning and testing for this year's new-look Founders Challenge is steaming ahead, with drafts…

: Farewell New River is a follow-up to Peter's New River walk last year. We start by heading into the very wonderful Broxbourne Woods, Hertfordshire's only National Nature Reserve, once traversed by the Roman Ermine Street. Broxbourne Woods Lunch is in the county town of Hertford - plenty…

Please note that event details for the North Downs Way walk on Saturday 20th April have been updated and it will start at 9.06 from Borough Green & Wrotham station. North Downs Way Sat 20th Apr 2019 Event Details: EVENT DETAILS UPDATED Event Type Group Walk Region Southern…

We're promised warm weather later on in the week so all the better to make yourself a picnic lunch on Saturday and head to Dunton Green where the North Downs Way awaits. Scroll down for all the details. : Capital Challenge 2019 results, photos, and report are now available…

Well done London LDWA. The Capital Challenge was a huge success once again and how good it was to hear entrants' enthusiastic comments about not just the route but the route description itself. London Group was delighted to welcome Phoebe Smith, the new LDWA President, who took part with a posse…

This week sees us rolling up our sleeves and clearing the decks for one of the best challenge events in the LDWA calendar. Our Capital Challenge is only three years old but already it has created such a buzz that walkers - and runners - from all parts of the country want to give it a go. Those of…

We're spoilt for choice this week, with Pete's Tuesday expedition along the Gipping Valley River Path and a full fixture list at the weekend On Saturday Lonica leads a circular hike based on Billingshurst that includes the tempting-sounding prospect of lunch at the RSPB cafe at Pulborough Brooks,…

If you're taking part in Ron's pop-up walk 'Golders Green to Stratford' on Tuesday 19th March or indeed the Capital Challenge on 6th April, here's a heads-up from the Marshals Walk. The route is famously mud-free, but a small section just after Checkpoint 3 and alongside the New River was very…

An extra reminder from Capital Challenge organiser, Jean, (particularly for any non-marshal chancers who decide to walk with us!!) for this Saturday's Marshals Walk. We meet and start at St John's Church, Waterloo. Hard to miss - it's opposite Waterloo station, on the roundabout by the IMAX cinema.…

The London LDWA would like to publish its weekly newsletter and walk reports on its website because the website can be accessed by individuals who are not members. This may involve occasionally publishing photographs of members while participating in London LDWA social walks. We understand that…

Double the fun this week, with Ron stepping up (see what I did there) on Friday to lead a non-challenge-event-pace walk covering the first half of London Group's very own Capital Challenge route. Then on Sunday it's time to re-unite with our friends from Kent Group for Peter's Timeball and…

Earlier today I checked whether the Penderel's Oak pub was still there and whether we were still in their diary for Wednesday. It is and we are. However the manager asked if I knew that there would be music playing in the Cellar bar where we had our reserved area. Weatherspoons/music !!! That was…

With snowdrops ubiquitous and crocuses burgeoning, It looks suspiciously like spring, at least for the next few days, so fingers crossed that the weather stays clement for London LDWA's first hike of March. This Saturday has a highbrow tone with the South West Sussex Literary Trail. All the…

This is to remind you all that the Thank You Meal is now just a week away. It's on Wednesday 27th February in the cellar bar of the Penderel's Oak pub 283-288 High Holborn, WC1V 7HP. It's a Weatherspoons. When entering the pub turn left down the stairs. Part of the cellar bar will be reserved for…

This is to remind you all that the Thank You Meal is now just over a week away. It is on Wednesday 27th February in the cellar bar of the Penderel's Oak pub 283-288 High Holborn, WC1V 7HP. It's a Weatherspons. When entering the pub turn left down the stairs. Part of the cellar bar will be reserved…

After a very enjoyable AGM last Wednesday, London LDWA is pleased to announce its new Chair, Ali Pretty, with Gavin Fuller taking over as Webmaster. Many thanks to outgoing incumbents Peter Aylmer and Keith Lane. Meanwhile, at least two London Group members went off-piste last weekend to take part…

Spring in the Chilterns CIRCULAR Sat 16th Feb Event Details: Event Type Group Walk Region Southern England Local Group London Distance 19ml. Start Time 09.00 Route Meet Chalfont and Latimer station which is in the Freedom Pass area. Take the 8.27 from Marylebone).19…

Our weekend walk this week is on Sunday, and it's the second part of Peter Jull's Timeball and Telegraph Trail, starting at Dartford where it left off two weeks ago. All the details below. Coming up! London LDWA AGM Our AGM is at 18:00 on Wednesday 13th February; upstairs in the King and…

Testing whether it can cope with a lot of links https://www.ldwa.org.uk/lgt/downloads/London/LDWAL19-4_London_AGM_Agenda_13th_Feb_2019.pdf https://www.ldwa.org.uk/lgt/downloads/London/LDWAL19-5__Secretaries__amp__Treasurers_Report_AGM_2019.pdf…

This just in - some late changes for Jerome's walk, Winter Chiltern Hills, on Saturday. Train is 8.42 from Marylebone and start is 9.24 at Great Missenden. The walk will start directly from platform 2 of the station so any car drivers need to meet there. Finish at 16.32

The title of our walk this Saturday is self-explanatory, composed as it is of the words 'winter' 'Chiltern' and 'hills', so wrap up well, as the TV weather people say, and prepare for a bit of ascent. All the details below. The volunteer force for the Hadrian 100 is already 12 strong but Susanne,…

Our long walk this weekend is Stage One of Peter's Timeball and Telegraph Trail. Meet at the Greenwich Observatory at 9.00 on Sunday for the first 17 miles of this fascinating five-part route which also offers the chance to meet up with our friends from Kent Group. All the details below. It's a…

We can't promise you warm weather but this week's offerings should keep the circulation going. First up, on Tuesday, and as previewed last week, is one of Ron's mystery tours, this one mainly south of the Thames. Our Saturday hike, led by Nigel, heads even further south, for a circular based on…

Two walks to tell you about this week. One, our weekend walk, is on Saturday, with Ian leading a circular based in Horsham. The second is a pop-up scheduled for the following Tuesday and features one of Ron's mystery tours, this one south of the river. All the details below. Last call for walk…

AGM 2019: committee nominations and motions. Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 13th February in the King and Queen pub, 1 Foley Street, London W1W 6DL. You are invited to be there from 18:00 for a meeting starting at 18:30. Please send any nominations to join the committee to…

A few of our committee members left town yesterday to take part in Essex & Herts LDWA's traditional curtain-opener to the New Year, the Stansted Stagger. A good time was had by all, including your Newsletter Editor, who nevetheless would like to add the following tip: It's never a good idea to…

An Epiphany Trail Sun 6th Jan 2019 Event Details: Event Type Group Walk Region Southern England Local Group London Distance 18ml. Start Time 9:00 Route Wimbledon station - meet at the main exit near the ticket machine (8.40 from Waterloo or District line or Croydon…

So it's goodbye to 2018 and greetings to 2019. This week London LDWA offers you the chance to walk off all holiday excesses. Susanne's Hangover Buster tomorrow, Tuesday, is a gentle prelude to the New Year, and on Saturday Ron has lined up some invigorating North Sea breezes to blast away any…

No walks scheduled this week - it's time to batten down the hatches, rush out to Tesco Express for the last remaining packet of Paxo in London, put the sprouts on to boil and look forward to Susanne's Hangover Buster on New Year's Day. More on that next week. Meanwhile, if you scroll down you'll…

Before we get on to this week's positive feast of walks (well, just the two but both terrifically tempting), the big news comes to us via Dave. According to the Guardian, a National Wetherspoons Museum will be opening in Wolverhampton this coming year to coincide with the pub chain's 40th…

No need to spend the evening cleaning the mud off your boots and throwing everything else into the washing machine after this week's walk. It's another chance to pound the pavements on Saturday, when Suzanne is linking rivers, canals, parks and stations in a Wetherspoons-free - and, hopefully,…

Having pounded the pavements of our capital city this weekend just gone, we switch to the wilds of Hampshire for our hike this Saturday, with Nigel leading a circular walk taking in Butser Hill and the Meon Valley. All the details below. All good things must come to an end! A big thank you…

Thank you meal and social evening You are invited to a meal and social evening for those people who have helped LDWA London Group by leading social walks or being marshals on challenge events. It will be on Wednesday 27th February 2019, and be in the cellar bar of the Penderel's Oak pub,…

Thank you meal and social evening You are invited to a meal and social evening for those people who have helped LDWA London Group by leading social walks or being marshals on challenge events. It will be on Wednesday 27th February 2019, and be in the cellar bar of the Penderel's Oak pub,…

In these dim and dark weeks approaching Christmas there's nothing like a lovely long walk to lift the spirits and on Sunday you can garner some pre-festive cheer with Dave's Extended Wetherspoons Odyssey, featuring Walthamstow Marshes and a riverside trek to Putney. All the details below. …

London LDWA heads for Essex this Saturday, with our Chair, Peter, leading a circular based on Roydon and taking in the Ways Harcamlow and Hertfordshire and the River Stort towpath. All the details below. Here's a puff for our Twitter account too. @LondonLDWA now has 118 followers but more are…

Two good 'uns scheduled this week to brighten up the dim and dark days of approaching winter. On Tuesday, Ron the pop-up king has come up with a daytime excursion along the green corridors of the Rivers Rom and Ingrebourne, and on Saturday everything apart from the leader begins with H (Aitch?) as…

What do you need from LDWA London? Do you get what you want, could it be better, and if so how? Earlier this year, LDWA London members asked your committee to set up a survey which could help us answer those questions. Here it is - we're sending this link…

What do you need from LDWA London? Do you get what you want, could it be better, and if so how? Earlier this year, LDWA London members asked your committee to set up a survey which could help us answer those questions. Here it is - we're sending this link…

What do you need from LDWA London? Do you get what you want, could it be better, and if so how? Earlier this year, LDWA London members asked your committee to set up a survey which could help us answer those questions. Here it is - we're sending this link…

What do you need from LDWA London? Do you get what you want, could it be better, and if so how? Earlier this year, LDWA London members asked your committee to set up a survey which could help us answer those questions. Here it is - we're sending this link…

Calling all walk leaders - and would-be walk leaders, too. Does anyone have a midweek walk they would like to share? So far, we have none lined up for November, so if you can offer a pop-up please do get in touch with Marie, our walks secretary. This week's long walk is on Saturday and is a…

Saturday Having given Surrey and Essex a pretty extensive checking out over the last few weeks, London LDWA's expeditionary force will be turning its attention to the big city on Wednesday, with another of Rob's trails of the unexpected. This one focuses on the alleys and lanes around Fenchurch…

This week we bring you a double dose of God's own county (I speak as an Essex Girl), with Ron as our esteemed leader on both jaunts. The first, on Wednesday, links North Fambridge, Maldon and Althorne, and promises sea walls and a dismantled railway amongst other delights. Saturday brings the…

After the weather gods delivered a perfect day on the Surrey hills for the Founders Challenge, it's back to that county again for this week's walk. when on Saturday Lonica leads a circular West of Guildford. Full details below. Meanwhile, here are a couple of behind-the-scenes photos from last…

There's a promise of decent weather this week and thanks to Ron's inventive mind we have a pop-up walk on Thursday that's definitely not to be missed. An Alternative Essex Way is the name and 'be prepared for the unexpected' is the warning. And on Saturday, of course, it's London LDWA's own…

Walk of the week is Jerome's Eastern Chiltern Fringes on Saturday, and what could be nicer than an autumnal adventure in this lovely part of the countryside? All the details are below - just scroll down. And just to give you a sneak preview of what's to come the following weekend, below is a photo…

Escape from Romford 2018 Fri 28th Sep 2018 Event Details: Pop-up walk . Event Type Group Walk Region Southern England Local Group London Distance 16ml. Route/general notes A repeat of last year's walk but with an additional 5 mile loop to be explored on the day so come…

Not the usual programme this week as everyone is gearing up for the upcoming Founders Challenge, which means it's time for the Marshals Walk. This is primarily for people who are going to be helping out on the day of the main event, but it's also open to anyone who hasn't tried a challenge event…

Is there any London LDWA member who hasn't yet cottoned on to the fact that this group has - how shall we put it? - something of a Wetherspoon's habit? Well, look at the name of Neil's Wednesday evening walk and you'll get the picture. Enough said. Moving on to the weekend, many of you will…

What a treat - this coming weekend features not one but two walks. On Saturday Ron promises 'The whole spectrum of London life as we cross the capital' - 24 miles of the Great Wen starting in Penge and finishing at Ally Pally. Then on Sunday there's the chance to celebrate the 30th anniversary of…

Just the one walk on offer this week, but it's a good 'un - the third leg of Jerome's London to Brighton Odyssey, taking in the Weald to the edge of the South Downs. Scroll down for all the details. Meanwhile, now we've entered the final one-third of 2018, it's time to plan your autumn walking. Why…

Disclaimer: any errors in this Newsletter should be blamed on the fact that on Saturday its editor set off at 4.00 a.m. from a lorry park in Chipping Ongar to walk 45 miles through rural Essex (as you do), and in consequence is a bit dozy at the time of writing. By the way, if you haven't had a go…

You wait weeks for a pop-up walk and then two come along at once. Everyone should be fit and rearing to go by Friday, when Ron will be leading what sounds like an expedition into the unknown from Marks Tey station. He advises bringing survival gear, at any rate. Then, on Saturday, assuming everyone…

Here's hoping those days of blistering heat are now behind us so we can enjoy what's lined up for us this week without having to stop every hour to gulp down litres of water. First up, on Wednesday evening, is a linear tour across Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common, and on Saturday we have a…

After the next couple of days the weather promises to be a little less scorchio than it has been recently, but it will still be warm enough to enjoy two more lovely summer walks to the full. Our midweek offering is Wednesday's fascinating-sounding trip around Bushy Park and on Saturday we have the…

Not that one believes absolutely everything one reads in the papers, but the Sunday Times assures us the weather forecast for the South-East indicates it's going to be warm and dry by Wednesday - good news for everyone joining Aysen's midweek walk. Its name is derived from a Sir Walter Raleigh…

The ice cream vans and purveyors of bottled water continue to do great business as this glorious weather extends into another week. For which we have two more lovely walks on offer, starting on Thursday with Dave's Ultimate Weatherspoon's Tour. Remember - it's curry night! Then, on Saturday,…

Two lovely walks on offer this week. On Wednesday, Aysen leads an exploration of the leafier parts of South London, perfect for a balmy summer evening. Saturday sees a return to The Spurs Way, featuring the Lee Valley Walk and a special guest as co-leader. You don't have to be a Spurs fan to enjoy…

Well, who'd have thunk it? England are through to the World Cup semi-final! This is, of course, the cause not only of much national rejoicing but also the postponement of our Wednesday evening walk, since it clashes with TV's showing of the game against Croatia. But there's still Part 2 of Jerome's…

Don't put the sunscreen away yet - this glorious heatwave is scheduled to last all week, and we've got just the walks for you to make the most of it. On Wednesday evening, Jerome leads a historical mystery tour south of the river, starting at Raynes Park and finishing one stop down the line at New…

This week features two counties guaranteed to be at their best at this time of year. The king of the pop-up walk, Ron Williamson, has come through again with a 15-miler on Wednesday designed to show you the delights of the Essex countryside between Harold Wood and Billericay. On Saturday Dave S.'s…

It's the week of the summer solstice, and this week's walks are just the thing to help you celebrate it in style. On Thursday Gail and John will be leading a fabulous sounding expedition that starts and finishes at Putney Bridge station, chases the route of the Boat Race and manages to pack in all…

It's a relatively quiet programme this week with Friday/Saturday's night walk regrettably cancelled owing to the leader's injury, but Wednesday promises us a lovely excursion from Beckenham via the Pool and Ravensbourne rivers to the Cutty Sark. And if anyone's got a pop-up in mind for later in the…

Who wants to stay indoors in this lovely weather? This week's walks, both led by Lonica, will be enough to tempt even the most dedicated couch potato outside. On Wednesday evening, Greenwich Park and Blackheath feature as will, I'm sure, the inevitable visit afterwards for some to one of London…

The floors have been swept and mopped, chairs wiped and stacked, and the last sausage roll consumed - Wittersham Village Hall, London LDWA's checkpoint on the Cinque Ports 100, was left as sparklingly clean as we found it before the horde of walkers, runners and supporters swept through on a…

The sun is out, the sky is blue and what a great few weeks of walking lie ahead. Why not celebrate the summer solstice with a long and lovely walk along the Thames Path on London LDWA's newest event, the Midsummer Challenge, on Saturday, June 23rd? Advance booking is essential on this one, so if…

A new development? As Rockin' Robin would put it, 'All the little birdies on Jaybird Street, Love to hear the robin go tweet, tweet, tweet.' London LDWA now has a Twitter account. We are London Long Distance Walkers and our 'handle' is @LondonLDWA, We will be tweeting news of upcoming walks and…

The month of May is almost always a time when you can see England's green spaces and countryside at its best, and this week's walks provide a perfect opportunity. First up is Ron's midweek daytime on Wednesday, when he will be leading us through the blossom-decked parks and demesnes between…

Roll up, roll up, walk leaders! There are still plenty of midweek evening dates in the Autumn/Winter calendar waiting to be filled so if you have a special short-ish walk you'd like to share, drop Marie a text on 07787 532793 or email her at mheracleous@yahoo.co.uk And now for this week's tempting…

Well, the weather's turned out nice again so what better on Wednesday than Pete's South London odyssey from one hill (Forest) to another (Denmark) as the sun goes down? Then on Saturday there are all the delights of the Surrey Hills area to look forward to, featuring the River Wey navigation and…

'What is that big yellow thing in the sky?' we may well be asking this week as the grim and dreary weather of the first half of the month gives way to proper spring (we hope). On Wednesday evening Ian leads a fascinating-sounding tour of some of South London's blue plaques and film locations and on…

Now that all the certificates have been handed out and all the cake crumbs have been swept off the tables at the View Tube café, it's time to reveal that a great day out was had by all on the 2018 Capital Challenge. It was good to see so many smiling faces and hear the positive feedback as…

The marshals' walks have been walked, the cakes are about to be baked, and London LDWA is raring to go. Yes, it's the big event, the 2018 Capital Challenge, coming up this Saturday, and if it's the first time you've trodden this route then you've got a treat coming - it's marvellous. The…

The clocks have gone back and it's officially spring - apparently. Well, at least it's stopped snowing, for now, and whatever this week's weather fronts have in store, two great walks will tempt you outdoors. Wednesday features Peter's pre-prandial yomp from Streatham Common via the Capital Ring…

Dear all, Some of us may be opening our street doors today with one question foremost on our lips - 'Is winter over yet?' Well, whether or not the baby beast from the East has moved on, we have two great walks to defrost the toes and herald in British Summer Time (yes, really). On Thursday evening…

Dear all, First things first. Many thanks to Adam, my predecessor, for keeping us informed and entertained via this Newsletter for the last three and a half years. He will be a hard act to follow, but (rolls up sleeves, puts on tin hat) here we go. This week features a veritable and varied…

Dear all, First things first. Many thanks to Adam, my predecessor, for keeping us informed and entertained via this Newsletter for the last three and a half years. He will be a hard act to follow, but (rolls up sleeves, puts on tin hat) here we go. This week features a veritable and varied…

Dear all As you read this and contemplate the sludgy tramp to work, spring probably feels a very long way off. But cheer up - it's less than three weeks till British Summer Time - and to fill the intervening gap we have got a couple of great walks programmed in, designed this week especially to…

Dear all Well as temperatures take a nosedive, and snow once again threatens to clothe our green and pleasant land, it does indeed feel that perhaps Christmas isn't that far away after all. But no - before we head off to deck the halls with boughs of holly, we have a rather more immediate - but…

Dear all The countdown to the London LDWA AGM is well underway and with only seventeen days to go until the big day itself, on 8 March, the tension is almost unbearable. So, while we have this all-important event in mind, let's seize the moment and have a quick newsflash! AGM Thursday 8th…

AGM_2018_agenda_LDWAL18-10.pdf AGM_2018_Challenge_Events_Report_LDWAL18-11.pdf The AGM agenda and a report on challenge events are attached to this message. Other reports will be sent over the next couple of weeks. Nominations for appointments to the LDWA London Group committee need to be sent to…

Good morning everyone! Well it doesn't seem two minutes since Christmas and now it's almost Valentine's day already. Where would we be without this steady flow of gift-buying opportunities? And soon we will have Easter eggs to look forward to as well! But on a more prosaic note, once again we…

Dear all Ahead of next month's AGM, we are looking for a willing volunteer to act as independent examiner for last year's accounts. Read on! A golden opportunityYes- this really could be you! You do not need to be a qualified accountant, just be willing to give up a couple of hours of your…

Notice for LDWA LONDON AGM Dear Members, An email on 2nd January gave the date of the AGM. This reminder gives the location and the date by when motions need to be with the secretaries. Please make every effort to attend the AGM which will be held at :- VENUE: The King & Queen pub …

Hello everyone! Fabulous February is upon us already. So the evenings are feeling lighter and longer, and our spirits are beginning to clamber out of the gloomy midwinter slough, nicely illuminated by last week's super blue moon. (And for once the clouds parted and it was actually visible from…

Hello everybody! It's almost February and the snowdrops are out. It's beginning to feel as if spring could be just around the corner (cue that Arctic blast..) I was just thinking that it's some time since we had one of our much-loved Special Notices so I'm delighted to be able to rectify that…

Hello everyone, once again First of all, I'd just like to say "well done" to anyone from London Group who completed the Surrey "Winter Tanners" challenge walk yesterday. It was an especially tough day - not only was the weather poor (it snowed then rained pretty much all day), but the ground…

Dear All How are the new year resolutions going? I do hope those pledges to drink less, exercise more and eat healthily are holding up well! But if they aren't, then London LDWA can definitely assist with the second, although our affinity for Wetherspoons might not be exactly helpful for the…

Hello again! We're well into 2018 now, and it's already beginning to feel like normal. And although the nights are long and the weather is inclement, it won't be long before the snowdrops start making themselves known and our walks will be adorned with the first early signs of spring. But let's…

Dear Members, Kindly save the 8th March 2018 for our LDWA London AGM. Details of venue and time to follow. If there are any issues that you would like to raise or motions you would like to put forward please let the secretaries know. Email - london@ldwa.org.uk Happy New Year and all the best for…

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope that Susanne satisfactorily busted your hangovers yesterday and now you are ready to hit the ground running (well walking a long way at any rate) in 2018! I think we can all look back on a very successful year for LDWA London in 2017.We: ran 88 well-attended social…

Happy Boxing Day! I do hope that Santa brought you everything you could possibly have wished for, and especially some nice comfy new hiking boots, all ready for the 2018 season (it does sound weird saying "2018" doesn't it? A bit like science fiction). If you're contemplating today through the…

Dear all Well - just a week to go and the excitement is almost unbearable. But you will be glad to know that LDWA London has a great walk laid on this week - as always - to help you while away the hours till Santa plops down the chimney. But first - a quick (and final!) plea. The 2018…

Dear all As the odds on a white Christmas fall as fast as the temperature, and as a national emergency is declared while three millimeters of snow blankets Surrey, now's the just the time to start planning your weekly warming leg-stretcher with London LDWA. And this week, despite the chill, we…

Hello everyone Well the icy blast over the last few days certainly reminds us that it's December already. And if the Daily Express is to be believed, our old friend the sinking polar vortex means that we're headed for the coldest winter in decades. So - that should guarantee it will be T-shirts…

Hello everyone Hope you've had a good weekend.Before we get into the walks programme, here are a couple of admin notices first: 1. Book launch event Don't forget that Peter and Colin's "Book Launch" event is being held this Wednesday. The details are below and you can also refer back to last…

Dear all Today's Update is a bit of a blockbuster. So adopt a perplexed-but-busy expression, prepare to alt-tab hastily in case your boss unexpectedly appears over your shoulder, and brace yourself as LDWA London's very own Oumuamua beams its way into your inbox from interstellar space. So…

Hello everyone Twice in one morning. What a thrilling start to the week! First of all - thanks to everyone who has already contributed to the caption competition. Some amazing responses so far - keep them coming in! Here was the first suggestion I got: "I knew that old banger couldn't bash…

Dear all Suffering in the Novembral gloom? Feeling SAD? Well here's something to banish the blues. Yes - we haven't had a caption competition for ages so I thought it was about time we had one. So get your minds into creative gear and read all about it below. Oh, and yes! we have a…

Hello everyone! Well now the Halloween hauntings and bonfire bangs are out of the way, we can look forward to an uninterrupted 48 shopping days until Christmas. Yes, a joyful prospect indeed, but just in case the excitements of Oxford Street in November don't inspire you, London LDWA has plenty…

Dear all Well, I hope you all enjoyed your lie-in yesterday morning. I like to think of the switch from BST to GMT as giving us one 24th of a Bank Holiday, which I suppose is some small compensation for the darker evenings which are upon us now. But, right on cue, Ron has once again been weaving…

Dear LDWA London Primary and Associate members As you know, our current Walks Secretary and Weekly Update Editor, Adam Dawson, will be stepping down at next year's AGM, after almost four years in the role. I'm delighted to announce the excellent news that Julie Welch has agreed to take on the…

Hello everyone and welcome to another windy week! But even if the weather is proving a bit less than ideal at the moment, at least we've got the Orionids to lift our spirits. Oh yes - and the LDWA London walks programme, too... And speaking of which, this week we've got a proper day beside the…

Hello everyone once again! Now that we're well into October, the Autumn colours are beginning to show themselves properly. So if you're stuck in the city all week, now's the time to start planning an escape at the weekend, to catch a glimpse of how the colours are developing, and to see what's…

Dear all We've got a great walking week lined up for you, but first... ...I probably don't need to remind you that on Saturday this week, LDWA London presents its annual "Founders'" Challenge event. But if you HAD forgotten it's not quite too late - entries close at 20.00 tonight, (Mon 9…

Hello everyone! So it's October already! The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness is almost upon us - but before we bid farewell to the last vestiges of summer, there's one more important event to fit into our walking calendars. Yes - it's less than a fortnight to our annual "Founders'"…

Hello everyone Monday comes around so fast, doesn't it? Well, hopefully we've got a settled, storm-free, week to look forward to with lots of great walking thrown in too. We're back in our normal walks programme sequence now, as the last of the "Silk River" walks finished on Sunday. By all…

Hello everyone Welcome to another Monday. As usual there's lots going on at the moment - here's a summary of this week's activities! The "Silk River" programme is in full flow (if you'll pardon the pun). There's a walk every day this week, so do make sure you join in. You can find all the…

Hello everyone Well although we like to moan about the weather as we walk, at least here we are usually fortunuate enough not to have to deal with the likes of Harvey, Irma, Katia and Jose. So although we don't exactly seem to be enjoying an Indian Summer (although see below..) at the moment,…

Hello everyone! We thought yesterday's email probably wasn't quite long enough, so have decided to send you even more information to digest this week! But this additional update only applies if you are going to be joining the 27 mile Founders' Marshals walk next Saturday, 9 September. If you are,…

This is a reminder about the LDWA London Group social evening tomorrow 5th September. Venue: Crosse Keys, 9 Gracechurch Street, EC3V 0DR. The &ldquo;Top Room and Balcony&rdquo; is booked from 18:00. To order food and drink you will need to present to the bar staff a copy of the bar tab bill which…

Hello everyone Here's a spolier alert - there are no fewer than FOUR LDWA London walks this week, so this email is a bit of a blockbuster! That being the case, you might want to get a coffee and find a quiet spot out of the boss's gaze for a few minutes, and settle down for a good read. Now…

Hello again! Sadly, we have no major astronomical or horological phenomena on offer this week, but, of course, we do have a great pair of walks on the programme for you to enjoy. All the details are below! Our first walk comes on Wednesday, when Keith is boldly heading out to the wilds of…

Club clothing for LDWA London members, with the club badge on it, is now available for purchase. The clothing will help promote the club and make us more identifiable on social walks and at other events. Clothing can be ordered by club members directly from the supplier Peco. Items can be viewed…

IMG_1625.JPGIMG_0614.jpgLDWA LONDON CLUB CLOTHING Club clothing for LDWA London members, with the club badge on it, is now available for purchase. The clothing will help promote the club and make us more identifiable on social walks and at other events. Clothing can be ordered by club members…

Well, welcome to Monday! And what a momentous Monday it is. With Big Ben switching off (probably) at lunchtime today, and a partial solar eclipse (albeit a rather unspectacular one) this evening to emphasise the sense of occasion, it truly promises to be a week to remember. So although LDWA…

Hello everyone Well, another fine (!) week beckons, and we've got a couple of mind-expanding and leg-stretching walks laid on for your enjoyment. All the details are below, but first let's have a brief commercial break: Midweek evening walk leaders for the Spring 2018 programme Believe it…

Dear Hike Leaders and Marshals, In appreciation for voluntarily giving your time and effort to lead walks and/or be marshals in LDWA London challenge events you are kindly invited to attend a club social evening. Without you our club could not function. A meal and a drink will be paid for from…

Dear all If you're thinking of joining Neil's walk on the South Downs on Saturday, the best train to meet the rendezvous at 10.00 am will be the 08.47 from Victoria, which arrives at 09.47. Meet at Lewes station at 10am. Adam

Hello everyone! You can always tell when the school holidays have started - the heavens open, the temperature plummets and the sun disappears. But even in the gloomiest of conditions, the landscape continues to entice. Here's the view from Parliament Hill on Charles' walk last Wedneday - and…

Hello everyone! Yes, - hard to believe but it's true. It's Monday again. Always incredible that it can come round so fast, but not to worry, we have, as ever, an excellent programme of walks laid on for you this week. But before we get too carried away, let's have one of those Important Notices…

Dear all Well as we celebrate the England women's victory in the cricket world cup, we move into the new week in good spirits. And even if you've not managed to get away on holiday yet, we've got a couple of great walks this week to tempt you out and about and make the most of our beautiful local…

Hello everyone! Well, now that Wimbledon is behind us, we can look forward to the new football season (which always seems to come around depressingly quickly) and falling strawberry prices to ease our transition into the high summer holiday season. But even more than that, London LDWA, as ever with…

For the Founders Challenge on 14th October this year we still need someone or a small group of people to take responsibility for the catering. Although this is no longer LDWA London's only Challenge Event it is the one where we have a reputation for catering to defend! However, reputation…

Don Bolton's Funeral Don Bolton passed away on the 5th July 2017. He was a long standing, much loved and respected member. Those from the LDWA who knew him are invited to attend the funeral and the lunch afterwards. The funeral arrangements are as follows: Date : Friday 21st July Time :…

Hello everyone! Hope you are all doing well and making the most of the summery weather we've been enjoying lately. London's collective Vitamin D levels must be reaching an all-time high! Well let's hope that the good weather continues a bit longer - but even if it doesn't we've got no fewer than…

Dear all Hello again! Summer's in full swing now, so why not make the most of it with London LDWA? We've got a couple of exciting - and distinctly aquatic-sounding - walks lined up to encourage you to get out and about this week. But first - why not cast your minds slightly further ahead to…

Dear all Well what a week that was! Record-breaking temperatures and record breaking boats paying Essex a visit. How can we top that? Actually - there are two more walks on offer this week, which are guaranteed to both exercise the limbs and stimulate the mind Our first excursion, on Wednesday…

Dear all hopefully someone who is attending this evenings "London Park Walks" will pick this up! please note that owing to train problems, tonight's leader (Alan) will be 15 mins late in arriving at Regents Park station this evening So please just hold on for him to arrive! thanks Adam 07767…

Hello again, everyone! It's hard to believe that its midsummer already - and we've got lots on this week to celebrate the solstice, albeit in a non-Druidic way. Yes we've got a midweek evening walk on the solstice itself this Wednesday, and then no fewer than two "pop up" walks (i.e. not in…

Hello everyone Well what a fabulous week London LDWA has got lined up for you - with lots more to look forward to beyond as well. And not a hint of coalition or chaos in our programme either! But before we can get into the details, I can proudly reveal our manifesto of three Important Notices…

Dear all We've got a couple of lovely walks to get us out and about this week. Details follow later in the email. Keith Lane's winning entry from our 2016 photo competitionThe strength, resilience and beauty of our capital city captured in one photograph So, what's on this week? First of all,…

Hello everyone And a special welcome back to the land of the living for any LDWA London members who may have recently completed the North Yorks Moors "100". A magnificent achievement indeed. You can view the full results of this flagship LDWA event here:…

Dear all As a result of last minute operational issues, it has become necessary to change the arrangements for this Saturday's walk. As a result, we will now no longer be going from Petts Wood to Purley, but instead the walk will explore parts of the Green Chain Walk from CRYSTAL PALACE TO ERITH.…

Hello everyone! Another week, another walk (or two, as it happens). And a Bank Holiday to look forward to as well! Well what a week it's going to be! - And the box below explains why: It's the annual LDWA "100" next weekend! It is fast approaching the time when our heroic London Group…

Dear London Group members As many of you will know, Don Bolton is a very long-standing member of the LDWA who has been heavily involved in the London Group for many years, contributing in several roles. He had a stroke just before Christmas, finally leaving hospital at the end of April, and…

Please note - at one point in yesterday's email I had a bit of a brain storm and indicated that Rob's walk from Boston Manor station was on Thursday. Of course, it isn't - the walk actually happened yesterday, Tuesday, so please don't turn up at Boston Manor on Thursday as there will be nobody…

Hello everyone! Welcome to another week. You'll be relieved to know that we have no Announcements this week, so let's get straight into this week's walk details. Yet again (as politicians love to say these days), we have two amazing hikes on offer for you. Starting first with our midweek…

Hello everyone! Welcome to that brief window of joy, after the ground has dried out sufficiently to make countryside walking a delight, and before we've started fretting about droughts and hosepipe bans. So let's leap through the window (metaphorically of course, in case you're reading this in an…

Hello everyone Happy Bank Holiday! Well although meteorologists and calendarians may disagree, according to the definitive LDWA annual walks programme, 1 May officially marks the start of the summer season. So we can confidently (if recklessly) adandon our waterproofs and thermals and don our…

Hello everyone! Here we go again - another week ahead of us, but lots to look forward to from London LDWA. And with the prolonged dry spell, the ground underfoot is becoming mud-free and the walking is excellent. So we've got a fabulous couple of walks laid on this week, to help lure you out into…

Hello everyone and happy Easter! Well, true to form it's been colder than Christmas, but at least it didn't rain (famous last words...) Now, if you're suffering from a chocolatey excess, we've got the perfect antidote for you this week. Yes, no fewer than two leg-stretching linear walks to help…

Hello everyone, and welcome to the week! But a nice short week to look forward to: in fact of the next 8 days, 50% of them are non-working! And what a scorcher of a weekend it's been too. Let's hope it's a harbinger of good weather and fine walking to come over the summer. A reminder of the…

Hello all, and happy Monday! Well even though the excitements of the Capital Challenge are behind us, why not catch up on the final results, which you can access by clicking here? This week we're going to have a change from the programme advertised in "Strider". ***Unfortunately, our "Farms Forests…

Hello everyone Yes it seems barely possible that it could be Monday already. But this week is an extra special one for London LDWA, as on Saturday it brings us our first ever Capital Challenge hike. This is a brand new challenge hike for London LDWA, and those with a keen memory might recall…

Dear All Well it may not be the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, but our chums at Network Rail certainly seem to be taking full advantage of the equinoctal daylight to implement a healthy programme of engineering works on our railways at the moment. This enthusiasm for track repairs…

Hello everyone! Well as the weather calms down after the weekend's blustery interlude, this week we've got the third instalment of our tripartite exploration of the London Loop long distance path for you to look forward to. There are more details of this further down the email, but, as seems to be…

Hello everyone! Welcome to the week and what a fabulous week we've got lined up for you at London LDWA! But before you jump out of your seat with excitement, let's keep our feet firmly on the ground for a few moments, and go through some of those hugely popular Important Notices: Here are…

Hello everyone! Well, if you're a meeting enthusiast, this week we're offering you a galaxy of opportunities for you to put your bureaucratic skills to good use. Because, not only is it the London LDWA AGM this week, we've also got the National LDWA AGM coming up at the weekend, too. There's a…

Hello everyone We've got a lot on this week, so I'd better get straight down to business. Yes, there are no fewer than THREE walks heading out over the next few days, so let's start at the beginning: 1. Basildon highlife (Wed 1 Mar)This one of our increasingly-popular midweek daytime walks, for…

Hello All Susanne Waldschmidt has asked me to put out another call for volunteers to help support this event. This should be a fun and interesting occasion set in a lovely part of the country. So, come on, if you are not actually taking part in the walk, get in touch with Susanne and offer your…

Hello All Reminder to please let me know if you will be attending the AGM and, especially, if you plan to come to the meal afterwards. Both will be at Pizza Express, 99 High Holborn and we need to let them know how many people will be coming, The AGM starts at 18.30 and we expect the meal to start…

Hello everyone! So another week begins, and the walking opportunities are blossoming like spring flowers. Gosh that was a bit poetic, wasn't it? But before I get too carried away, first of all here is another of those Important Announcements: Capital Challenge Hike - Marshals Well - Saturday…

Dear all As I glanced out of the window this morning I noticed a strange yellow object in the sky and realised that the sun was actually shining! Yes, maybe the grey skies, drizzle and permeating cold have been despatched to the memories of winter, and perhaps spring might slowly start to emerge…

Hello All Final details about the AGM. 1. Venue Change We have had to change the venue as the Perserverance will not be available on the 9 March. We will now use Pizza Express, 99 High Holborn, WC1V 6LF. We will be downstairs. Start time will still be 18.30. 2. Agenda I attach the proposed agenda:…

Dear all I'm sure that eagle-eyed readers will have already spotted the deliberate mistake in this weeks' update email. Yes - the start time for the St Albans walk on Sunday should be 09.23 at St Albans Abbey station, and NOT 10:30 as incorrectly stated in the introductory text to my email (the…

Dear all I'm pleased to report that, once again, we have an excellent programme of walks for you this week. In fact, by way of ringing the changes slightly, we are bringing you both a midweek "daytime" walk (if you've managed to escape the office), and a weekend daytime walk (if you haven't). …

Dear all Just because it's February it doesn't mean that LDWA London isn't as active as ever! So this week, like last, we've got no fewer than two walks coming up for you to enjoy - both midweek evening and weekend daytime. Read on... First in our agenda this week is a down-river hike on…

Hello everyone! Well what an interesting week it's been. But although the political landscape seems to be in a state of flux at the moment, you can be certain that the real landscape out there remains alluring and unchanged. And of course LDWA London will be reliably out there, making the…

Hello All Reminder that the AGM will be on the evening of Thursday 9th March. Full details to follow. This email is to flag up 2 issues for your early attention. 1. Membership of the Committee. The comittee currently has 6 members: Chair - Peter Aylmer Secretary - Douglas Robinson Treasurer - Rod…

Hello everyone! First - thanks to everyone who voted in the 2016 photo competition. There was a very good turnout and I'm pleased to advise that the winner was Keith Lane with his photo "The sky welcoming us to the City and the end-of-walk Wetherspoons". The runner up was Godfrey O'Callaghan…

Hello All It is that time of year again when thoughts turn to the annual 100 mile walk. This year it is in North Yorkshire and London Group has offered to help run one of the check-points. Once again, Susanne Walschmidt has agreed to lead the London team and she has asked me to send out the…

Hello everyone! I hope the return to work after the break wasn't too painful. The worst of it is though that this week, the boss will also be back from holidays, so the gentle reintroduction to the office that you enjoyed last week last week will be shattered with a plethora of exciting…

Hello All You all (24 in total) said that you would like to come to this event. This email is to confirm that a room has been booked at the Knights Templar from 18.30 onwards. It is at the back of the balcony up the stairs and on the left. I should say that it might be a bit cosy as it is a small…

Dear All Happy 2017. Hope you're having a good start to the year. At least the sun is shining today, after yesterday's rather damp squib (sorry, Susanne...) Well - here's a quick test of your London knowledge... Who knows where London's Grand Canyon is? Well - the answer will be revealed…

Hello everyone and welcome to 2017! Let's hope it's a great year for all of us. But there is still some unfinished business from 2016. Yes - it's the LDWA London photo competition! We got a good set of entries and now it's time to choose your favourites. There will be a magnificent prize…

Hello everyone! Welcome to the last weekly update of 2016. Well it's certainly been a bit of a roller coaster of a year, so whether you are happy or sad to see the end of it, LDWA London can offer you plenty to look forward to in 2017. But before we get too carried away with the prospect of…

Dear all Well as the year lurches to a close, and with only six shopping days left to Christmas, it's surely time to bring a little light relief to the wintry gloom by contemplating this week's walk - in fact it's our last walk of 2016, and we're going out in style. Yes, on Saturday, Neil will…

Hello everyone Well, as 2016 runs out of steam, and the working week seems to be a lengthening tunnel with the Christmas break still glimmering just beyond reach at the end of it, what better time to start planning in a few winter walks to finish off the year. So even if the rest of the world may…

Dear all Well what a bumper edition we'ge got in store today! So much of interest this week, in fact, that it's almost impossible to know where to start. So let's begin with a couple of (well three) parish notices... LDWA London's Parish noticeboard! 1) "Christmas" party This year,…

Hello All Rather than have a Christmas dinner this winter, we are proposing having an evening social on Wednesday 11 January. It will be at the Knights Templar (Weatherspoons pub) on Chancery Lane, WC2 1DT. There is no special Christmas menu, just good value Weatherspoons drink and food and, of…

Hello once again! Well the good thing about this time of year is that it's only 23 days left to.. (no - not Christmas but..) the shortest day! So in only three brief weeks, the days will start drawing out and we can look forward once again to the bright, sun-drenched (well drenched in something,…

Dear all Well Angus certainly seems determined to wreak as much havoc as possible to our walks, programme, doesn't he? Yes, the latest victim is the final stage of next Saturday's walk. Dave, the walk leader, has recently recce'd the route and has concluded that the last section, to Frant, has…

Happy Monday everyone! Welcome to the week. No more astronomical phenomena to behold this week, I'm afraid, after Monday's supermoon (somewhat-less-than-spectactular, it has to be said), and the weekend's highly successful, if storm-blown, group "curry and comets" weekend away. There is a report…

Hello everyone! Welcome to Monday - but what a Monday it is, as a once-in-a-lifetime Supermoon fills our skies this evening! That is, if 100% cloud cover doesn't obscure the view. Anyway, make sure you drag yourselves away from Coronation Street and catch those perigee vibes (as we trendy types…

Hello everyone Sorry to bother you twice in one week - but what the heck, it's Friday, the sun is shining (at the moment) and I'm sure you can spare a couple of minutes to read this urgent note about our forthcoming events over the next couple of weekends.. Hopefully this email won't meet the…

Hello everyone! Well OK I know that not everyone agrees that Romford is actually in Essex but where's the alliterative ring in "a North London and Essex Extravaganza"? Anyway - more of all that in a moment. But first, a quick Parish Notice... Walks leaders for Summer 2017! Unbelievably, it's…

Hello everyone! Well after last week's epic Update, I thought I'd go for something a little shorter this time. But that doesn't mean there are fewer interesting activities this week - far from it! London LDWA has, as ever, got a great couple of walks for you to enjoy, as the clocks go back and…

Hello everyone and welcome to the last week of October! As usual there is a lot going on in London LDWA at the moment, including a great walk on Saturday which will help us squeeze the very most out of that last hour of British Summer Time. This week there is absolutely masses (a technical term)…

Hello everyone! This week's walking programme has a distinctly Eastern feel to it. OK well perhaps Stepney and Southend don't quite have the same glamour appeal as Delhi and Shanghai, but you get the general idea. So kicking off this week's oriental outings, on Wednesday, Gordon will be taking…

Hello All Surrey group have asked if we can tell you that already more than a third of the 450 places for the Winter Tanners have been taken. So, if you are thinking of entering this event, then don't wait too long or you might be too late. If you have not done the event before, then I would…

Hello All Don't say that we don't give you plenty of notice! So a note for your diary or calendar. The AGM will be on the evening of Thursday 9 March 2017. Hope to see you there. Further details to follow. Regards Douglas Robinson Secretary

Hello All You had previously expressed interest in attending a first aid course - hope that you have not forgotten! Sorry it has taken so long to take this forward but you will be pleased to know that the committee has now decided to run another course. Keith Lane has agreed to take the lead and…

Hello everyone! Lots going on this week including news of a special celebratory Pop Up walk! But first - just to report back that the "Founders'" event last Saturday was a tremendous success. We had 183 registered entrants - which was something of a record for recent years. The results of…

Dear all This week sees slight departure from the norm. Firstly because our midweek walks (but not our weeekend walks!) become a bit more sporadic until next Spring - there isn't one this week, but fear not we have a healthy programme of occasional midweek excursions running right through the…

Hello All To let you know that we renewed our group membership with the YHA for another year, till October 2017. So, if anyone, is thinking of planning a walk/weekend away for the group, which might require overnight accommodation, then remember that we have this membership which allows us to use…

Hello everyone No you're not getting double vision! Just to avoid any confusion - and especially for the benefit of any Kent members who receive this - please note that Peter's forthcoming "Questions from Kent" walk will be run TWICE. Once primarily for London group and once primarily for Kent…

Dear all Well I have to admit today's headline is stretching a point, slightly, but it did at least catch your attention. And it is, fortunately, true, because both of our walks this week are heading out East (actually it's more south-east but let's not get hung up on the details) to enjoy the…

Hello All London Family Members You will have all seen the email of 18 September from Steph Carter (membership secretary) about these changes. You may have some questions about this and a Frequently Asked Questions document has been produced to help answer these. It can be found on the LDWA website…

OOOPS - I pressed "Send" a bit hastily with my earlier email - apologies for clogging up your inboxes! Dear All Well autumn certainly seemed to announce its arrival with a spectacular fanfare last Thursday night but let's hope we haven't quite seen the last of the Indian Summer yet. And…

Hello everyone This week we've got an excellent midweek outing for you, and an update on the forthcoming "Founders'" challenge hike - which includes an invitation and an appeal! So read on.. 1. Dulwich and the Uppers (Wed 14) Our first event this week comes on Wednesday evening, when Ian will…

Hello again! Well with a decent-sounding forecast, perhaps we will be enjoying a bit of an Indian Summer after all this September? It's probably a bit too soon to start counting our chickens weather-wise, but at any rate it should be sufficient encouragement to get the boots on and soak up a few…

Dear all Well, slightly sadly, this week brings us into the start of the official LDWA "Autumn" walking season. But as those memories of summer slowly start to fade, there's lots to look forward to. In particular, the annual LDWA London "Founders" challenge event is beginning to loom larger…

Hello everybody Well what an Olympian fortnight it's been. Hats off to Team GB for such a sterling performance! And I was personally extremely cheered up by Nick Skelton's performance in the showjumping as I realise that perhaps in four years that gold letterbox just down the street could be…

Well hello! I hope you've been able to snatch at least a few days away from the office so you can get out and enjoy the summer weather. But if you haven't - fear not! London LDWA is in fine fettle and we've got another pair of tantalising walks to tempt you out into the fresh air. But first…

Hello again! Summer is in full swing now, and we have, as usual, got a couple of great walks in store to help make the most of it. But before we get into the details of this week's busy programme - a Special Notice... Walk leaders for Spring 2017 (1 January to 30 April) Although it seems…

Dear all Well, as usual, we've got lots going on in London LDWA this week. And at a time when we cast our minds back to 2012 and to the heady days of the London Olympics, and as we also start to anticipate Rio in 2016, then what could be more appropriate than our first walk of the week? Yes,…

Hello everyone! Well now that the summer holidays are fully upon us, if you're not heading off to sunnier climes for the next few weeks, what better time could there be than now to become tourists in our own backyards? And this week, we've got two particularly interesting walks in store, which…

Dear all This week we've got Chessington and the Chilterns to cheer us! Yes, we've got two charming changes of scene laid on for you this week, cheerfully led by those charismatic chaps Jerome and Peter. So pour yourself a glass of chilled chablis and read on.. First of all, on Wednesday, Jerome…

Dear all Eagle- eyed readers will have spotted that I accidentally changed the start time for Lonica's "London Squares" walk tonight. It should be 6:30pm at Embankment tube (not 6:00pm as I incorrectly stated). Apologies. Please do enjoy the walk. Adam

Hello everyone! We've got two great walks this week, both led by Lonica, which are guaranteed to lift the spirits as we head into high summer. But first, a couple of admin notices.. 1. Volunteers to lead LDWA walks in Spring 2017 Yes I know it sounds improbable but I (Adam D) am already on…

Hello everyone! Coming up this Autumn, LDWA London will be organising the 20th &ldquo;Founders&rdquo; challenge hike. The purpose of this email is to alert you to this fabulous up-coming date for your diary and specifically to invite you to: 1) Enter the challenge event as a participant 2) …

Hello everybody! Well with a headline like that, I'm sure you're itching to learn more. What's all this about Heathing and Wilting? Actually, the only way really to find out will be check out the walks programme, which this week features two excursions of exceptional interest. But before we get…

Hello everyone! Well, love it or loathe it, we're living in a slightly different world now but the good thing is that the countryside is still as beautiful as ever, and the LDWA is a pillar of stability amidst the turmoil! So what have we got in store this week? Actually, there are two great…

Hello everybody! Well if you're enjoying the heady mix of football and politics that's filling our airwaves and screens as much as I am at the moment, you're probably thinking of emigating to the moon. But if that's not a realistic proposition - and let's face it unless you're Tim Peake, it…

Hello and welcome to the week! Don't let the weather deter you from getting out and about! It's the rain that makes this such a green and pleasant land, and right now the countryside is looking magnificent. All you need to get the most out of it is a bit of goretex and a positive mental…

Dear all There's lots of exciting stuff in this week's update, even though I say so myself. So pop out to Starbucks for your morning latte, sneak off somehere that your boss can't find (or where you can pretend to be reading the CEO's latest missive explaining why it really would be a good idea…

Congratulations to all those from London who successfully completed the Dorset 100 last weekend. Nineteen hardy souls started the walk and fourteen completed it. At the risk of embarassing them, they were Richard Allison, Marie Doke, Gail Elrick, John Elrick, Ken Fancett, John Gorman, Donna…

Hello everyone Not content with running one trip to the Lakes this summer, as well as Godfrey's trip in June, we're now able to offer you the chance of a second bite at the cherry,with a further "pop up" trip in July. This later trip is being organised by Ron Williamson for a small group of walkers…

Hello everyone! Well, as one eventful week finishes, so another one begins. Last week we brought you three highly successful London LDWA Group walks AND many of you also participated in the LDWA's annual "100" mile challenge event in Dorset. This week's update actually comes to you "live" from…

Hello everyone! My word - what a busy week we've got coming up! The sap is definitely rising and spring is so vigorous now that you can almost hear the grass grow. But first - a quick reminder that next weekend, starting on Saturday 28 May, is the annual LDWA "100 mile" challenge hike. …

Hello everyone! Yet another Monday reaches us and it's time to anticipate the delights in store from London LDWA this week. OK so "watery" is stretching it a bit - but both walks on offer this week do offer stretches of the Thames Path along their routes. The first walk this week is a circular…

Hello everyone! Well just when we thought it could never happen - the sun has come out! What better excuse could you need to get your shorts on and dazzle your friends with your lardy legs on an LDWA excursion? Well this week brings no less than two opportunities to do just that. First of all,…

If you are not involved in the Dorset 100, then you can ignore this email. However, if you are walking or supporting it, then you might like to know that Susanne Waldschmidt is arranging a meal on the Friday evening - 19:30 onwards Walkers and Volunteers (plus other odds and sods) Welcome After…

Hello again! I noticed that now we're into May, we are officially in the LDWA "Summer" walking season. Well - it's not exactly been a spectacular start to the season, weather-wise, so far - but here's hoping that things are set to improve.. Sounds all too likely.. Well anyway - as usual we've…

Hello everyone! Mondays seem to come around so fast, don't they? Well now that we're well into the spring season, we've got two excellent walks lined up for you this week. First of all, on Wednesday evening, Alan is taking us on a visit to Beverley Brook. And no, Beverley isn't a B-list soap…

Hello everyone! Yes, it's Monday again but no need for the beginning of week blues! We've got a couple of great walks - and a plug for the late Summer - to brighten the start to your week. Coming up first, on Tuesday, Ron is leading a midweek, mid-day "pop up" walk (i.e. it doesn't appear in…

Hello everyone! Welcome to Monday, again.Well, to cheer you through the week, we've got lots of short-term (and longer term, too) excitements for you to get into your diaries. First of all, on Tuesday (yes, that's TOMORROW) evening, Susan is leading a central London excursion, taking in some of…

Hello All Thanks to those of you who responded to my previous email of 23 January (reproduced below) and have volunteered to help at the Dorset 100 this year. Susanne is very grateful but would be delighted if she could have even more help. I should also say that all those of us from London who…

Happy Monday, everyone! Well now that we're well into spring and the last equinoctal storm has been despatched before we reached the end of the alphabet, we're starting to get back into our two-walks-a-week rhythm. So this week we've got two great walks lined up - of which more details below -…

Hello everyone! Well now that the clocks have gone forward and we've shaken off the sleep-deprivation that the loss of an hour in bed on Sunday morning causes, we've got lighter evenings and longer walking days to look forward to. That is, of course, if it ever stops raining. This week's…

Hello All As you know, we hold the Founders Challenge walk each October. This year is the 20th anniversary and we want to make a special effort to raise awareness of it and encourage more people to enter. Gordon Parker has produced the attached flier 20th_Founders_Flyer_2.docx If you are planning…

Hello All We have successfully run 2 first aid courses in the last few years and are considering running another one later this year for members who have not been on one of the previous courses. It would be open to any London member but with priority being given to members who lead walks or act as…

Hello everyone and welcome to the first working day of spring! There's lots going on with LDWA London this week, so go and get a cup of tea, pretend you're studying essential business emails, and read on... 1. A new "Trip Away" to the Lake District. LDWA London is delighted to announce that in…

Hello everybody Welcome to Monday! It's only a week till the vernal equinox now, and already the evenings are getting noticeably lighter. So what more reason could you need for getting out and about with the London LDWA this week? And to add further to the temptation, on Saturday, Peter, in his…

Hello everyone Well now that we're into the meteorological majesty of March, we've actually got two walks coming up this week to make the most of the fresh air that this windy month affords. So get your boots out, gird your loins, and get ready to roam! (By the way, does anyone know what…

Dear all So as we enjoy our leap day and look forward to March, this week we're going back to Hertfordshire again to check out those bits of Bishop's Stortford that Dave missed last weekend. Filling in the gaps (with a route that is completely different, actually, from last weekend's), on Sunday.…

Dear all Well - stand by for a Brace of Bishops! Yes, over the next couple of weeks, we're giving beautiful Bishop's Stortford a thorough airing. This week, Dave is leading a linear walk to Epping, and then next week, Lonica will be taking a circular walk in the same locale but with a completely…

Dear all Hello and welcome to the week! I always seem to be saying this, but this week there really is a quite a lot going on with London LDWA. First of all - this is your final reminder for the forthcoming London LDWA AGM. It's this Thursday, 18 February, at 18:30 in the Perseverance pub, Lamb's…

Dear all Before I get into the details of this week's walk, just a quick reminder that we're rapidly approaching London LDWA's Annual General Meeting - coming up at 18:30 a week on Thursday (18 February) in The Perserverance pub, 63 Lamb's Conduit Street.It's your chance to have your say about how…

Dear Select Group Catherine Fox, our chair has asked me to pass on the following invitation to a meal and drink to thank you for all your help in 2015. Without people like you willing to lead walks and/or provide support at the Founders and in other ways, the group would soon cease to exist.…

Hello All Quick reminder that the London Group AGM will be held on Thursday 18 February at The Perserverance, 63 Lamb's Conduit Street, WC1N 3NB. It will start at 18.30. This will be followed by a meal at Pizza Express in Holborn. You are all welcome to attend both events. If you are planning to…

Hello everybody As the week unfolds and yet another alphabetic storm sweeps from the Atlantic, London LDWA serves up the prospect of a miraculous (and, given the amount of rain we've had recenty, very relevant) weekend walk to help entice us through the next few days. Weekend away in November But…

Dear All Sorry if you already have received a copy of this email which was originally sent on the 23rd. However, we had a problem with the bulk emailing system last weekend and I gather that more than 150 emails were not delivered. So I am resending it. Douglas Susanne Waldschmidt is organising…

Hello everyone Welcome to the week. And what a week it is - with lots for you to digest. This week, we've got rabbity ramble, an extragalactic expedition (well almost) and a Weymouth wander for you to consider. FirstStarting with our feet firmly on the ground, this Sunday Christopher is…

Dear All Susanne Waldschmidt is organising London's support for the 100 this year and has asked me to pass on this call for volunteers to help. It will be held on the weekend of Friday 27th May to Monday 30th May and volunteers are needed for Headquarters. As…

Dear All This is to notify you that the London Group AGM will be held on Thursday 18 February at The Perserverance, 63 Lamb's Conduit Street, WC1N 3NB. It will start at 18.30. You are all welcome to attend. I attach: 1. proposed agenda for this meeting 160218_DRAFT_AGM_AGENDA.doc 2. minutes of…

Hello everyone Well as the days get longer, so the cold gets stronger, as they say, and that certainly seems to be the case at the moment. In last weekend's walk, we even came across some snow lying in Russell Square. The first I think I've seen on an LDWA London outing for a couple of years..…

Hello everyone Welcome to Monday and to a whole week of work stretching out in front of you. But in case that doesn't sufficiently galvanise you, we have another mind expandingly educational outing on offer next Sunday. Yes, in a bid to help London LDWA become the walking equivalent of Radio 4,…

Hello everyone So it's down to earth with a bump, as Christmas passes and the 2016 rain streams down. All we have to sustain our spirits, it seems, are the Easter eggs which have arrived already in our local branch of W H Smith. But there is more than this to brighten our horizons! First of all…

Dear all I think I must have Barnes on the brain, because of course the starting point for Laurence;s walk on Sunday 3 Jan should of course be Blackheath rail station. Barnes is the starting point for Susanne's walk on Friday. All the details are correct on the website. Apologies for any…

Hello everyone I hope you've had a happy, successful and relaxing Christmas break. If you were lucky enough to receive new boots, go-pros or socks that are guarateed not to give you blisters (but do) from Santa, and are itching to try them out, then read on.. LDWA London has got a great series…

Hello I see you have recently (well in the last 2 months) joined the LDWA, so I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce you to the London Group. We are a friendly, expanding group and we do our best to make new members welcome. We organise social walks: typically 18 miles in winter and…

Hello everyone! Well, what a year it's been! We've been on 53 weekend walks, 31 midweek walks, two weekends away, and organised a challenge hike. During 2015, a total of 1164 people came on our social walks. And, rather magnificently, Keith capped off the year last Saturday with one our…

Hello everyone It was great to see so many of you at the LDWA London Christmas dinner last night. Sincere thanks to Catherine for organising it. The photo competition seemed to provoke lots of discussion but nobody managed to name all 13 members appearing on the mid-1990s group photo. The closest…

Hello everybody! Well with the thermometer in the mid-teens, it hardly feels very wintry. But what the weather lacks in Christmas spirit, LDWA London can more than make up for with an action-packed programme through the festive season. First of all, of course, it's our Christmas dinner, this…

Hello everyone Only 18 walking days left until Christmas. I can hardly believe it. And hopefully we're going to enjoy a few days of peace and quiet on the weather front, too, as Desmond runs out of steam and while Eva is still getting organised somewhere in the North Atlantic. Where on earth did…

Dear all Well, as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Einstein's famous equations, we've got lots for you to think about this week. First of all, a couple of reminders. If you haven't signed up for the LDWA Christmas Dinner on Thursday 17 December yet, and would like be there (how could you miss…

Hello everyone This week's Update holds lots of interest (well at least I hope it does) in the form two triples. Yes really. The first is a triple-choice for our forthcoming walks programme, and the second is a triple Wetherspoons-extravaganza. Starting first with the trilemma.. Dick has…

Dear all: Now that Abigail has been safely despatched to Iceland, let's hope we are in for a slightly less stormy period of weather. Though on current performance, that might be a bit of a forlorn hope. Anyway, we are made of tough stuff in London LDWA, so no matter what the weather throws at us,…

Hello All This email is to bring you all up to date on what we in London are proposing to do to help with the running of the next 3 hundreds. As you will probably know, running the annual 100 mile walk involves a lot of work and can only happen if the organising group gets help from other groups…

Hello everyone In the whirlwind world that is London LDWA, there is lots going on and plenty of things for you to think about this week. So if you're teetering excitedly on the edges of your seats, read on! The website We've given the LDWA London website (https://www.ldwa.org.uk/London) a bit…

Dear All Advance notice that this year's AGM will be held on the evening of Thursday 18 February. Further details will follow later. However, thiis email is also to prompt you to start thinking about whether you, or indeed someone else, would be interested in serving on the committee. Each year all…

Hello All It is that time of year again and you are all cordially invited to our Christrmas dinner. It will be held on Thursday 17th December and again we will be going to the Knights Templar in Chancery Lane. http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-knights-templar-chancery-lane Meet at 7.30…

Hello everyone Summer 2016 walks programme. I know it always seems hard to believe, but I'm starting to think about the Summer 2016 (i.e. 1 May to 31 August) walks programme already. I know there are always mixed views about whether it's helpful to start thinking so far ahead, but we are rather…

Hello All I am forwarding this notice from DEFRA who are looking for people to join the boards of various bodies such as national parks. This has come via our NEC who got it only very late in the day even though I assume that the adverts originally went out weeks ago. I have hesitated before…

Hello everyone In an attempt to make next Sunday's "Roach and Crouch Estuarine Exploration" walk the most-corrected in LDWA history, a number of eagle-eyed aficionados of the National Rail timetable have pointed out that the 08.44 train to Rochford next Sunday actually gets in at 10:00, rather than…

Hello everyone! I know the tension has been unbearable, but at last I'm delighted to be able to announce the winner of this year's London LDWA "unhelpful signs" competition. Actually, the voting was remarkably evenly spread amongst the 40 entries, but there was one photo that just nudged ahead of…

Hello everyone Your votes have been coming in thick-and-fast but if you haven't voted yet, you've got until noon on Monday 26 October to pick your favourite "unhelpful" sign in the LDWA London photo contest. Just visit the competition website by clicking here Then pick the number of your selected…

Dear all The world-famous LDWA "unhelpful signs" competition finished at midnight last night, so now it's time to cast your vote for the winner. It's very easy - just follow these three steps: Visit the competition website where all 40 entries are posted, by clicking here Look through the gallery…

Hello everyone! Welcome to Monday. The Autumn is now well and truly upon us. The good thing about Mondays is that it's a nice long time until the end of next weekend. Anyway. while you're thinking about that, LDWA London as ever has plenty of interesting things going on to lift your horizons…

Hello everyone Before getting into the details of this week's walks (and yes this week it's walks in the plural, as we have two for you to enjoy), I just wanted to mention a couple of other matters First of all, a date for your diaries. The 20th annual LDWA London "Founders'" challenge hike will…

Hello everyone Sorry to fill your inbox with more "stuff" but at least if you're getting this at work, it isn't from your boss demanding urgent action before you leave on Friday afternoon... I just wanted to remind you all to send in your entries for the LDWA photo competition. But before I do…

Hello everyone! Well this week, sadly, we don't have any eclipses to enjoy, but instead we can all look back on an excellent "Founders'" challenge hike last Saturday. The results are online now, and you can access them by clicking here.There is also short report and some photos, which you can…

Hello everyone Like the look of this?: On the route of the "Founders'" challenge last weekend. All this can be yours.. Been looking out of the window this afternoon at the glorious sunshine and wishing you were out in it? Well you can be!! Saturday 3 October is the 19th "Founders'" challenge…

Hello everyone Well, after all these months of preparation, LDWA London's 19th Founders' Challenge hike is finally upon us. We hit the Surrey Hills this Saturday (3 October). And of course if this isn't your cup of tea, we're offiering an absolutely excellent shorter alternative on Thursday…

Hello I see you have recently (well in the last 2 months) joined the LDWA, so I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce you to the London Group. We are a friendly, expanding group and we do our best to make new members welcome. We organise social walks: typically 18 miles in winter and…

I attach a brief note from the NEC meeting held on 15 July. This is for your infomration but, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to get in touch. Douglas Robinson Secretary 150715_NEC_note_July_15_1.docx

Hello everyone Well it's a bit of a blockbuster week for London LDWA this week. Not only do we have a fantastic set of walks for you to enjoy, but also this week sees the launch of our much- vaunted competition. Turning first to our walks. On Wednesday, Jerome is leading us on a "Park…

Dear all It hardly seems possible that we are well into September already. But LDWA London has plenty going on this week to help us all make the best of the last few weeks of Summer. Read on.. Top of the list - Founders. I'm sure you're all well aware that our annual challenge hike is…

Hello everyone Well what a line up we have for you this week - three walks and a beer festival! What more could you possibly ask for! So, starting this week's extraordinary events, on TUESDAY (yes if you are reading this on Monday that's TOMORROW and if you're reading it on Tuesday, that's…

Hello everyone! Well I'm not going to start this week's email by making any more confident predictions about rail strikes. Otherwise I will probably end up being offered a job at ACAS. Anyway, this week we've got some great walks lined up for you. First up, on Wednesday, you've got an opportunity…

Dear all Feeling bemused about leaving from Paddington for Saturday's walk?? Fear not! It seems as if I may have been a bit premature in declaring the end of transport strikes in my email last Monday. I hadn't spotted that First Great Western are also proposing to strike over the weekend. I…

Dear all The first thing I need to let you know is what is happening to Keith's walk this Wednesday. As at the time of writing (5pm on Monday 24 August), it has just been announced that this week's tube strikes have been suspended (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-34045753) Therefore…

Hello everyone! Please read to the end of this email as we need your help! I'm sure that you are all aware that LDWA London is organising the annual challenge hike - the "Founders'" - on Saturday 3 October. Indeed you will probably have been able to think of little else over the summer. You…

Hello everyone Sorry to bombard you with emails this week, but there are two matters I wanted to mention: First - as long-suffering Londoners, you will no doubt be aware that a series of Tube strikes are currently planned for next week. If they go ahead, in view of the likely widespread…

Hello everyone This week, in a bit of a departure from the norm, we are offering not one, not two, but three walks for your enjoyment - one of which is a full-day midweek excursion, for anyone lucky enough not to be at work this week. First on the list, this Tuesday, Charles is leading a…

Hello I see you have recently (well in the last 4 months) joined the LDWA, so I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce you to the London Group. We are a friendly, expanding group and we do our best to make new members welcome. We organise social walks: typically 18 miles in winter and…

London calling! Hello again, everyone. I hope you're all enjoying the summer and managing to get a bit of a break from the hurly burly of work. But even more, I hope you still have some space in your calendars to fit in a quick leg-stretch with the LDWA. This week, we've got a couple of…

Dear All As promised in my email of 3 August, here are further details about Kathy's funeral. Nigel has asked that: 1. Family flowers only - thank you2. Donations in lieu of flowers should you wish. Cheques payable to MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT. There will be wooden box at the church to receive any…

Dear All As some of you will already know, one of our long standing members, Kathy Loraso, died recently. As well as being an active and supportive member for many years, Kathy was a lovely lady and will be sorely missed. Kathy's partner, Nigel Schofield, has asked me to pass on the following…

Dear all Don't you wish it could be summer every day? Well, of course, with London LDWA it can be! OK maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration but this week we've got two great outings to help you make the most of the weather. First up, on on Tuesday, Dave is leading a stroll along the Grand…

Dear London walkers So now the school holidays are fully upon us, the heavens have duly opened and returned the countryside to its proper verdant state. Well, that's the positive way of looking at it! But despite the rain, it's probably about time to try and escape the madding crowd. As…

Dear All Sorry that you have not heard anything from me for a while and are probably wondering what is going on. I have been away in Scotland and Canada. So this email is to say: 1. thank you for attending the course on the 20th. I am really impressed and delighted that all 11 of you went. I would…

Hello everyone Well if the novelty of gazing at the ice moutains of Pluto has begun to wear off, we've got some distinctly high-brow outings in store to provide an equally thrilling feast for your eyes this week. Yes, you're invited to come and join LDWAs own resident 'art expert'(!) Susanne…

Hello All I attach a letter which the Ramblers have sent to the LDWA asking for our help in assessing the state of Rights of Way across the country. LDWA nationally think that this is very worthwhile initiative and want to support it. I agree and will personally volunteer to take a grid square to…

Dear all Because of the proposed 24 hour tube strike from the evening on Wednesday 5 August, we have decided to bring the date of the Osterley and Grand Union Canal walk, which was originally planned for Thursday 6 August, forward to Tuesday 4 August. All the other details of the walk remain…

Dear London hikers I hope you had a good weekend and that the week is shaping up well for you. It looks like "business as usual" has been resumed in the weather department, though hopefully that doesn't mean that the British summer is over for another year :-( While I've got your attention,…

; Hello everyone! This is a slightly out-of-the-normal-pattern-of-emails call for help! We need our members to come forward to help maintain our position as one of the premier groups in the LDWA. In particular, we'd be really grateful if you could help out on two things &ndash; our October…

Dear all Doubtless this email will find you in a state of anxious tension - worrying either about the fate of the Euro, or about whether the New Horizons space probe is going to wake up before it zooms past Pluto next week with its eyes inconveniently shut. Anyway, even if you're not worrying,…

Hello everyone Well, at last it feels like summer! So in tradiational British fashion, we better stop moaning about the non-stop cold and wet, and instead fret about the possibilities fo heatstroke and sunburn. Anyway, in LDWA London we are made of sterner stuff and never miss an opportunity to…

Hello everyone Now that the summer is well and truly with us, our walks programme is getting into fiull swing. So this week we've got two particularly tasty offerings to tempt you out into the countryside. First, on Wednesday, Peter is leading a 7-miler round Wanstead Flats. So if you would…

; The 19th Founders Challenge event organised by the LDWA London Group will be held on Saturday 3rd October. Volunteers are needed! This e-mail is being sent to all LDWA London members on behalf of the Founders' Challenge hike organiser at founderschallenge@ldwa.org.uk Adam Pode has…

Dear all This week we've got a particularly fascinating couple of walks coming up. I can guarantee a genuinely unforgettable and mind-expanding experience for all participants. So first up, on THURSDAY (note not Wednesday this week), Paula is leading a tree-spotting exploration of Richmond…

Hello everyone Well what a scorcher! I hope you all managed to get out and about and enjoy some fresh air and sunshine this weekend. Long may it last! Before getting into the details of this week's walks, I just wanted to let you know that this years's LDWA London annual "Founders'" challenge…

Dear all Please note that owing to rail engineering works on the line from Fenchurch St, there is a bus replacement service part of the way to the start of this Sunday's walk. In view of the slightly longer journey time, the start of the walk will be delayed to 09.20, to allow anyone taking the…

Dear all Now that summer is nearly upon us, we've got a couple of interesting walks laid on to make the best of the long days and (hopefully) better weather. First up, on Wednesday evening, Andy is leading a brisk-paced exploration of the Wandle river - one of the tributaries of the Thames. …

Congratulations to the London members who completed the Red Rose Hundred in Lancashire last weekend. Eleven succesfully walked the hundred miles in less than 48 hours. At the risk of embarassing them, they are Melissa Butcher, Mark Danby, John Elrick, Giles Glover, John Gorman, Sarah Jackson, Simon…

Hello London Members We have had an unusual request which is copied below. This is nothing to do with the LDWA but, as far as we can tell, it is a real organisation making films. As you can see they are looking for people to push a pencil for 35 miles to see if it will last that long. Just the job…

Dear all Well with both the Red Rose 100 to walk and the Eurovision Song Contest to watch, it's certainly been an endurance-testing bank holiday weekend. My congratulations to everyone who had the stamina to complete either but double congratulations to anyone who managed both. Anyway, now…

Hello All Sorry to nag BUT many of you have still not replied to my emails of 27 April and 7 May. Indeed, only 12 of the 23 have replied. So could I ask the 11 who have not replied, to please let me know whether you will or will not want to attend the course on the 20 June. I really do need to…

Hello everyone Yes it's that time of the week again and I can bring you lots of spine-tingling excitement from London LDWA. Now that we're into the spring and summer season, we're running two events a week, most weeks until the end of September. So there can be absolutely no excuse for anyone not…

Dear all Barely a day goes by without something exciting being on the agenda for the London LDWA. This week we've got deer and azaeas, wild garlic and Ascension. Yes really. If you'd like to learn more about this unlikely combination, then read on.. On Wednesday, Roderick is leading his…

Hello All Thanks to those of you who have replied to my email of 27 April. Can I ask those who have not replied yet to do so soon as I need to know who is able to come and who is not. Regards Douglas Robinson

Hello everyone I'm writing this from France and as it's my 30th wedding anniversary today I better make this quick or else my wife has advised me that it may also be my last. Anyway in the space of a few short minutes, I need to let you know about three important events coming up with London LDWA.…

Hello everyone This weekend we're offering a bit of urban expolration, by way of a slight change to our more usual programme of hikes through the wilds(!) of the Home Counties. So this Sunday, Catherine will be leading a trip through some of London's green spaces, starting with Highgate Wood, but…

Hello All Thank you for your patience but you will be pleased to know that this is now arranged. The training session will be on the afternoon of Saturday 20 June at the YMCA in Wimbledon. It will start at 14.00 and last for 3 hours. I realise that this will almost certainly not be ideal or…

Hello everyone It's that time of the week again and today I can bring news of not just one, but two, LDWA London outings to tempt your boots out of the cupboard under the stairs. First up is Marita's Crystal Palace exploration this Wednesday evening. If, like me, you have never actiually been…

Dear all Now that spring has sprung, why not head for the great outdoors and enjoy some spring sunshine next Sunday, with Jerome's hilly hike through the South Downs? The walk is a circular excursion from Petersfield. If you're interested, be at Petersfield station at 09:39, or take the 08:30…

Hello All Thank you for your expression of interest in this course. A quick email to let you know what is happening as you won't have heard anything from me for a while - I have been away. We have 23 interested people some of whom have helpfully made suggestions of possible venues that we might use…

Hello everyone Well just as you've got your boots off after last week's action packed schedule, it's time to get them on again in time for this Saturday's Godalming Circular walk, being led this time by Jenny. This promises to be a really interesting excursion through the Surrey countryside, and an…

Dear all Please note that Southeastern trains are doing some major engineering work this weekend. This means that the train times for this Sunday's "Tulip Fever" walk have changed. The new train will depart slightly earlier, at 07:52 from Victoria on Sunday, and arrive earlier, at 08:42, at…

Dear all We've got a busy week coming up, with some really interesting walks to tempt you away from the Easter eggs and chocolate indulgence. First up, Adam (the other Adam, not me!) is leading a brace of walks this week. On Wednesday the fascinating "Another Blitz walk" will be visiting some…

Hello I see you have recently (well in the last 3 months) joined the LDWA, so I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce you to the London Group. We are a friendly, expanding group and we do our best to make new members welcome. We organise social walks: typically 18 miles in winter and…

Hello You are cordially invited to a social evening on Tuesday 12 May. Rather like old fashioned cinema shows, this will be a double bill. First up, and the "B" movie, will be - "Everything that you wanted to know about Challenge Walks but were afraid to ask". This will not star Ronald Reagen but…

We are proposing running an introductory course on first aid for our members. This would help members be better prepared in the event of an accident or emergency on a walk. The course will probably be half a day and held on a Saturday or Sunday morning. Venue to be decided yet but it will probably…

Dear all As usual, there seems to be a lot going on this week &ndash; though sadly no astronomical phenomena by way of extra excitement. (I guess the clouds might have lifted briefly to allow some of you to get a glimpse of the eclipse on Friday &ndash; but try as I might the cloud was just too…

Dear all I expect you're all excited about the forthcoming solar eclipse this Friday morning and given that the next one isn't until 2026, it will definitely be worth sticking your head out of the office window at around 9:30 to check it out (or at least to see whether it's still raining..) As if…

Hello everone Well now the excitement of the caption competition has declined from its Eurovision Song Contest-like fever pitch, it's time to return to business as usual for London LDWA. There's quite a lot on this week, too. First of all This Wednesday, 11 March, Douglas is leading a riverside…

Well I imagine your'e all on the edges of your seats biting your nails in keen anticipation... Well wait no longer! The results of last week's caption compeition are in! As a reminder, I've reproduced the picture, and some of the best entries, below: The annual 100 mile walk The route…

Good morning everyone I've had an outstanding response to the caption competition launched last Monday. But if you'd like to add your entry to the ever-growing list, and put your name in the hat for the £15 of "ViewRanger" vouchers that's on offer to the winner, then you've just got until 6pm on…

Hello everyone Well it was nice to see quite of few of you at last week's AGM and there's quite a lot going on this week to think about as well. First of all, this Sunday Andy's organising a hike along the riverbank from Wimbledon which would be good in its own right even without the intriguing…

Hello London Members I want to remind you that, very unusually if not uniquely, there will actually be an election for the next Chair of the LDWA when John Sparshatt stands down in March. There are 2 candidates - Gail Elrick and Tim Glenn - and I want to encourage you to use your vote if possible.…

Dear all In case you were worried about being at a loose end this week, then worry no longer as LDWA London can well and truly fill the gaps for you. We've got three events coming up this week. If you'd like to learn more, then read on... First we've got our much-trailed AGM, tomorrow (Tuesday…

Hello All Sorry to bother you with yet another email for the AGM on Tuesday but I think that it is important that you are aware of what is being proposed for the future of the newsletter. Ali Pretty has edited this for the last 3 years but will be standing down now and no-one has offered to take on…

Dear All I atatch the annual accounts which will be presented to the AGM next week. ldwa_london_acs_2014_1.pdf LDWA_tsr_rpt_year_2014.docx ldwa_london_bs_31dec2014_1_1.pdf If you have any questions or queries then either please raise them at the AGM or send me an email. Regards Douglas Robinson…

Hello everyone! I can hardly believe we're well into February already. This means that the good news is that the evenings are getting noticeably lighter, which is making it less of a rush to finish our weekend walks before nightfall. So if you'd like to take advantage of the slightly longer…

Dear London hikers Well I reckon that romantic candle-lit dinners for two are a bit over-rated and and the only real way to celebrate Valentine's Day is with a 20 mile yomp around the Sussex border. So if you think the same, why not cram the candles and dinner into your rucksack and head over to…

Dear fellow walkers OK so that's Monday despatched, so it's time to start making plans for the weekend. After Peter's interesting geneaological exploration of Kent last weekend, this Saturday it really is Jerome's turn - he's taking a linear winter walk through the South Downs. Note that the…

You might be interested to know that we have Group membership of the YHA. This could be of use to you if you are thinking of organising, for example, a weekend away for group members and staying in a youth hostel is an option. The group card would get you benefits such as a reduced overnight rate.…

A reminder that the AGM will be held on the evening of Tuesday 24 February. I attach an agenda 150224_Feb_15_London_LDWA_AGM_Agenda.doc You are all welcome to attend both the AGM and meal afterwards in Pizza Express in Holborn. 1. Please let me know if you wish to attend either or both - I need to…

Dear all Before everyone jumps out of their skins in alarm, I just noticed that I got my names mixed up for Sunday's walk. It's Peter's walk, rather than Jerome's - not quite sure how that happened, but apologies for any confusion. I think my brain must have fast-forwarded to the weekend already!…

Happy Monday, everyone This week we've got a walk with a difference laid on. On Sunday (1st of Feb), Jerome will be leading a circular North Downs walk, visiting some less well-known villages in the Downs along the way. But to add a bit of extra interest, his walk will take in a number of…

Good evening everyone I hope it's promising to be a good week. If you're already starting to gaze out of the window and daydream about what you could be doing instead of sitting in the office, then, despite the cold weather, London LDWA has two treats in store this week which are guaranteed to warm…

Dear London Members You are invited to attend the AGM which will be held on Tuesday 24 February starting at 18.30. It will be held in the upstairs room at the Queens Larder pub, 1 Queen Square Holborn, WC1N 3AR. Please let me know if you plan to attend or wish to send your apologies. If there are…

Hello everyone Congratulations on having survived the first few days back at work after the break.To give yourselves something a bit more cheerful to contemplate than the next 346 shopping days to Christmas, we've got quite a lot of events lined up for you to think about in the near future. First…

This email is from Adam Dawson and is going to Douglas Robinson, Paul Lawrence and (hopefully) Simon Leck I have attached a few files to this email using Simon's instructions. Perhaps you could reply to this email (it will come through to me at adldwa@btinternet.com) and let me know what you…

Hello Committee I am trying to see if I can attach a document to a bulk email so I am testing it out on you. The minutes of last year's AGM should be attached. 140225_Minutes_of_LDWA_London_Group_AGM_Final.doc Please let me know if you receive it. Regards Douglas

Hello everyone This Saturday, 10 January, it's my turn to lead a walk and this time it's a particularly interesting trek around the North Chilterns. I walked the route last weekend and yes I really did spot pheasants, wildebeest and a fox along the way. So if you'd like to join me on what I am…

Happy New Year! Advance warning that the AGM of the London Group will be held on Tuesday 24 February. Formal notification and further details will be sent later but I thought that you might like to note this date and mark in your diary. Hope to see you there. Douglas Robinson Secretary

Hello everyone Lots on offer from London LDWA this week! If you're already beginning to wonder how you will banish the New Year morning-after-the-night-before blues, then London LDWA has the perfect answer with an interesting central London walk on New Year's Day afternoon. This year, to tempt…

Hello I see you have recently joined the LDWA, so I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce you to the London Group. We are a friendly, expanding group and we do our best to make new members welcome. We organise weekend social walks: typically 18 miles in winter and 23 miles in summer.…

Dear all This is positively the last communication from me before Christmas! Anyway - if you're not already busy thinking about Paul Lawrence's longer spring and summer trips away (details here), then don't forget London LDWA has a couple of end-of-year treats for you to enjoy in the slightly…

Hello everyone Already beginning to anticipate the need to burn off a few Christmas calories with some fresh air and exercise? Well, here are a couple of ideas to think about. This spring and summer, one of our LDWA London Committee members, Paul Lawrence, is planning two longer excursions, well…

Well here's your last chance to burn off a few calories before Christmas! This Saturday's outing features a walk along the Thames Path, taking in interesting sights along the more easterly reaches of the river. Details are below but please note that owing to Railtrack maintenance work this weekend,…

Dear all: I very much regret that we have had to cancel this weekend's walk (which was to have been Haslemere to Liphook this Sunday, 14 December). Sadly, the walk leader sustained an injury last weekend whilst our recce-ing the route and despite physiotherapy this week, will not be fit to lead by…

This week, despite it being mid-December, we have not one but two walks in store. So banish the midwinter blues either with a city walk tomorrow (Wednesday) evening, or a country hike on Sunday. The details are below, but please note that because of an injutry, Sunday's walk details will be…

Dear all: After last Sunday's exploration of the Chilterns and the Thames path, we've got another great event coming up this weekend. The details are all below - click on the links to learn more The weather forecast is looking quite good at the moment, so there's no excuse for not pulling on the…

Hello everyone, well this week it's my turn to lead a walk and to prove that I don't just sit in an office sending out emails! This time, it's an 18 mile Sunday circular walk from Beaconsfield station - the details are on the website, which you can access by clicking on the links below. Don't…

Hello everyone Last week's e-mail "heads up" on the week's forthcoming activities seemed to gain a generally favourable response (well at least no squelas of pain!) so here's a summary of what's happening for your hiking enjoyment in the Group this week: Sat 22nd Nov 2014 One Stop on the…

For those planning to join in with the circular surprise from Richmond next Wednesday, it will be no surprise to know that you will need a torch. 6.30 prompt at Richmond station. See you all there. Paula

Dear all: We thought our members might find it handy to get a weekly e-mail highlighting the great events that the London group has got coming up in the next week. So - here goes with the first one! Hopefully, you'll find it useful. This week we've got two great events in store - they are…

Beaconsfield - Thames - Marlow Full details of the walk on Sun 30 November are now avaiable on the website at http://www.ldwa.org.uk/London/E/13359/beaconsfield-thames-marlow-circuit.html Leader Adam Dawson; 17 miles; meet Beaconsfield station 09:28

For those planning to join the walk a week on Sunday, details are as per the website but please note: There are engineering works on the rail line but as these are south of the start point at Robertsbridge station, they shouldn't affect anyone coming from London There is a pub lunch available but…

Hello I see you have recently joined the LDWA, so I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce you to the London Group. We are a friendly, expanding group and we do our best to make new members welcome. We organise social walks: typically 18 miles in winter and 23 miles in summer. Usually…

London LDWA Christmas Meal Time to break with tradition and go for something different so this year the group Christmas meal will be before Christmas. It will be at 7.00pm Wednesday 17th December 2014 at The Knights Templar, a Wetherspoons pub, at 95 Chancery Lane (the Fleet Street end of…

Dear long distance walkers! I'm writing to introduce myself as the new Walks Secretary for the London LDWA group. I've just taken over from Margaret Romanski, who has done a fantastic job in running the post for the last few years. Thanks to her efforts, everything is in great shape and it should…

Reminder that there is another evening walk this Wednesday. It will go from Kingston to Richmond. Meet Kingston station at 18.30. Bring a torch as it may be a bit dark by the riverside. Leader: Douglas Robinson, mobile 07729 035 728

It is just two weeks before the founders and we still need volunteers to make this as great a success as previously. In particular we are looking for:- 1) car park attendants before the Challenge. This could be done by somebody walking they just need to be at Peaslake by 6.45-7am. 2)…

18th Founders' Challenge is taking place at Peaslake on Sunday 19th October 2014. If you have not already done so please register asap at https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?elid=Y&event_id=1529 Full details can be found at http://www.ldwa.org.uk/London/W/3179/2014.html The walk is not…

London LDWA member Adam Dawson will be giving an illustrated talk about his recent 1,500 mile backpacking hike through the length of the UK, climbing the Three Peaks on the way. Come along to find out how he ditched paper maps, learned (almost) to love slugs and camped in some of the most…

Hello I see you have recently joined the LDWA, so I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce you to the London Group. We are a friendly, expanding group and we do our best to make new members welcome. We organise social walks: typically 18 miles in winter and 23 miles in summer. Usually…

Wed 10th Sept Cutty Sark to the Golden Hinde Centuries of Maritime History 7mls. Start 18.30 Meet by the figurehead of the Cutty Sark (TQ383779) Walk will be along both the N&S banks past the ancient pubs in Wapping. Through St Katherine's Dock to the S bank, passing the HMS…

Hi everyone, I still have gaps in the spring program for one or two evening walks in April.2015. Walks on Tues/ Wed or Thurs. Sunset times range 19.30 - 20.21. One walk mid month or possibly two walks - one at the beginning and one nearer the end. Please let me know if you would be willing to lead…

The London LDWA group was formed in 1994 when 8 local LDWA members met in the Charing Cross Hotel. There was a Evening Pub Meet/ Tour of Wapping on August 17th followed by the groups first full day walk on August 20th from Kelvedon to Chappel and Wakes Colne. Both of these walks were led by the…

Please note that the event planned tomorrow to view the Tour de France race at Canary Wharf before the evening walk has been cancelled . Sorry for any inconvenience. The Uxbridget Circular walk will go ahead as advertised

Uxbridge circular Thu 24th Jul 2014 Event Details: Event Details Updated: Travel disruption. There is no tube service running to Uxbridge on 24th July. Tube as far as West Ruislip on central line or Ruislip on Metropolitan line.. Then bus service. See below for more details and connection…

Please note that the proposed evening walk on Wednesday 16th has been cancelled and has replaced by one on the following evening. Thanks to Rob Myers for stepping in at short notice. The details are as follows. Thu Jul 17 East End Parks7 ml 18.15 Bethnal Green tube stn (Northern…

Colin Saunders has asked for the following message to be sent to all London members. If you do not know Colin, he has been a stalwart of the London LDWA for many years and is the author of other books, including the guide book to the Capital Ring. "My new book Rambling Away From 'The Smoke' has…

As I've had a number of enquiries re this walk and info has been amended recently I thought it worth circulating an email with final details. Margaret South Downs Surprise- Moulsecoomb to Seaford Sat 14th Jun 2014 Event Details: London Group Walk Distance: c 25ml. Start Time: 09.15 Route:…

There are still gaps in the program for some evening walks in August and September and I am looking for people willing to fill the remaining slots. There are three slots still free:- Tues 12th - Thurs 14th Aug Tues 2nd - Thurs 4th Sept and Tues 16th - Thurs 18th Sept. Traditionally walks…

Please see this request from a Sally Childes. She tells me that she is carrying out an independent research project as part of her postgraduate studies in heritage interpretation. She is focussing on National Trails and long distance walkers. She has no link with any organisations responsible for…

BBN have opened up this walk to members from other neighbouring groups, including London. If you are interested in taking part, then please contact Nigel Schofield, the organiser. Places would seem to be limited so you should act quickly if you would like to take part. GREENSAND RIDGE WALK 20…

Your LDWA needs you for Valleys 100 Weekend Away Friday 23st May to Monday 27th May 2014 Volunteers needed for Checkpoint 14 (Come and join the happy band of 13 so far. ) Our London Group checkpoint this year is 90 miles along the route in Llanellen Village Hall…

Please note that the dates of walks for the next two week-ends have changed and are not as per Strider . The correct dates have been on the website for some time. Details below. Please note note picnic lunch on 30 Mar as it is Mothers Day. Pub stop for drinks only. Amberley Circular please note…

The Kent LDWA are organizing the Wealdon Waters event on 26 and 27th July. The 100km event is for the 40th anniversary of Kent group. They have asked for London group volunteers to assist at the start and finish. The HQ will be at Hawkenbury pavilion, a new building still under construction,…

Hi everyone, A final reminder that the London AGM is this Tuesday 25th Feb at 6.30pm. It will be held at the upstairs room of the Queens Larder pub, 1 Queen Square Holborn. WC1N 3AR. Afterwards there will be a meal at Ciao Bella Italian restaurant, 86-90 Lamb's Conduit St, Bloomsbury, London…

Saturdays walk from East Croydon is likely to end at Woldingham as Oxted staion is closed. It is not clear if it will reopen by the week-end. Woldingham is one stop before Oxted. Other details as per the website. Margaret

The published walk is not possible due to flooding. Luckily Peter is able to offer an alternative route. Details below and on the website. WALK CHANGE East Croydon to Oxted Sat 15th Feb 2014 Event Details: Event Details Updated: This walk has changed due to flooding. Not as published in…

Tour of Houses of Parliament Douglas Robinson has arranged for a tour of Parliament for up to 20 members. This will be at 16.30 on Friday 16 May. The tour lasts about 75 minutes. It is free. If you are interested in joining this, please get in touch with Douglas at…

We still have not found anyone willing to take on the role of walks secretary. I have summarised what's involved again below. If anyone is interested please let a member of the committee know ASAP. If anyone would like to have a go but is a bit unsure, I would be happy to offer a job share…

Dear London LDWA Members Happy 2014! This email is a reminder that the group's AGM is set for Tuesday 25th February for 6.30pm. It will be held at the upstairs room of the Queens Larder pub, 1 Queen Square Holborn. WC1N 3AR. If you have any matters you wish to put forward for discussion please…

We are having our Annual Festive Season get together on Wednesday 29thJanuary at 7pm at Loch Fyne in Leadenhall Market, 77 Gracechurch Street. EC3V 0AS. Cost is £12/ £14.50 for 2 or 3 courses inc service. Drinks extra. Menu is below. If you would like to attend please let me Lonica know and…

Dear London LDWA Members Happy 2014! This email is to let you know we are having our Annual Festive Season get together on Wednesday 29th January at 7pm at Loch Fyne in Leadenhall Market, 77 Gracechurch Street. EC3V 0AS The menu deal is as attached &ndash; 2 or 3 courses plus a side dish. Adding…

Appeal for leaders I am looking for leaders for the following slots Sat Mar 1. This week-end is now vacant. Anyone willing to lead a walk on Sat 1 Mar or even Sun 2nd Mar please let me know. The original walk is still on the site with a note that it may change. A Challenge revisited from…

We have four committee posts coming vacant next February that will need to be filled at the AGM. These are :- Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Walks Secretary. This is an unprecedented number at one time and it is important that we fill them all - They are all necessary for the functioning of…

Your LDWA needs you for Valleys 100 Weekend Away Friday 23rd May to Monday 27th May 2014 Volunteers needed for Checkpoint 14 Our London Group checkpoint this year is 90 miles along the route in Llanellen Village Hall http://www.ldwa.org.uk/2014Hundred/W/2469/cp14-llanellen.html and only 3 miles…

Wed 20 Nov - A Blitz Walk takes place this Wednesday - originally 13 Nov Sat 30 Nov - Rock on. As parenthood now beckons for Steve and Landy, this will be the last walk that he leads for the London Group in the foreseeable future. Also, the change in status in life means the chances for him and…

A reminder that the BBN 30th Anniversary quiz walk takes place this Sunday. The walk is 8 miles in the morning starting at 10 a.m. from Newton Longton Village Hall. There is a rep from the Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Air Ambulance arriving at 1330. The lecture will last about…

I am very sorry to let you all know of the recent death of Jim Palmer. Jim was a former walks secretary some 10 years ago and I am sure our longstanding members will remember him well. Jim had been ill for some time. The funeral will be this Tuesday morning at 9.30 from Jim's house in Cookham…

A reminder that the London LDWA Curry Evening is on Wednesday 9th Oct. Venue : Muhib Restaurant, 73 Brick La. Meet at Hamilton Hall Pub, Liverpool St from 6.30pm, Restaurant 7.30. Deal is £12 for two courses plus one drink ( £14 prawn) http://www.muhibindiancuisine.com/ We have a good crowd…

Apologies to those who have already received the email last week but for some reason it did not reach all members THE WALK ON 22nd SEPT CLANDON TO GUILDFORD IS CANCELLED. It had been replaced by a joint walk with SWC on Sat 21st although I appreciate it is now very late for anyone who did not…

A number of people missed the details at the end of the last email so here they are again. SOCIAL EVENT Wednesday 9 Oct - Curry Night at Muhib Restaurant, 73 Brick La. http://muhibindiancuisine.com/ £12 fix price deal 2 courses plus one drink. ( £14 prawn) Meet at Hamilton Hall pub,…

Founders Challenge 20th Oct 2013 This is a last call requesting a few more of our London Group members to volunteer to help marshal this wonderful event. We are expecting 200 people to enter & really want to show them that the London Group can put on a good show. There are still spaces at HQ in…

Is anyone willing to lead a walk on 22nd September? Don is unable to lead his walk from Clanden on that day and there is currently a gap in the program. The advertised route is Clanden to Guildford but under the circumstances it may not be practical to stick to this. So if you are willing to…

It is with much sadness that I letting you know of the death last week of Lou Shepherd. Lou had been ill for some time and had not walked with the group recently but was an active member a few years ago. I am sure many of you will remember her as I do with great fondness. Her family have asked…

17 Aug. Farnham to Brookwood. For those of you who saw the warning message on the site this week I am very pleased to confirm that this walk is going ahead as published. Margaret 24- 26 Capital Ring Weekend Social Event. LDWA Members Next weekend's walk will be tough and for those hardy souls…

Please note the start time is 9.02 from Chelmsford stn . Depart London Liverpool st. 8.30. There will be a bus ride to the start of the walk (at Gallywood Common) approx 15 mins and back again. Those not fortunate enough to have a freedom pass or bus pass should add a plus-bus to their train…

Please note there is a late timetable change for the London Victoria connection for tomorrow's walk. Now 8.11 from Victoria. Change at East Croydon. 8.55 departure from East Croydon to Hassocks. The 8.41 direct train option from London Bridge direct to Hassocks is unchanged and is as advertised.…

Hello London Members, I am looking for a leader to help fill the program by leading a walk on 24th November? A gap has arisen in the program on that date. Sunday preferred that week-end if possible, Please let me know if you can fill this slot. The Strider deadline is end of May but I only…

LDWA Walks

The LDWA organises many challenge and local group walks, as well as listing many more organised by other organisations. Challenge events are normally between 20 and 100 miles and must generally be completed within a defined time limit. Group walks are normally led walks of around 20 miles.Click here to go to the LDWA website.